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By Puja Gupta
New Delhi, January 18 (IANSlife): Did you know that unusual vaginal bleeding or discharge could be a warning sign of cervical cancer? India is responsible for nearly a quarter of cervical cancer deaths worldwide, with 60,078 deaths and 96,922 new cases in 2018. This largely preventable disease is the second leading cause of cancer death in Indian women, Sushma Tomar, obstetrics and gynecology consultant, Fortis Kalyan Hospital tells IANSlife.
According to the Indian Journal of Medical Pediatric Oncology, in India, cervical cancer contributes about 6 to 29% of all cancers in women. The incidence rate of cervical cancer adjusted for age varies considerably from one registry to another; the highest is 23.07 / 1.00,000 in Mizoram state and the lowest is 4.91 / 1.00,000 in Dibrugarh district.
Although cervical cancer is quite preventable, the reason for this higher incidence is the lack of awareness among women. Plus, when diagnosed early, cervical cancer can be successfully treated and often cured. Therefore, in addition to having regular Pap tests for screening, a woman should learn to recognize possible warning signs so that she can bring them to the attention of her doctor, Dr. Tomar stresses.
She lists 10 warning signs of cervical cancer:
– Itching or burning sensations in the vagina
– Lower back or abdominal pain
– Unexplained fatigue
– Bladder symptoms such as hematuria (blood in the urine), dysuria (painful urination) and / or frequent or urgent urination
– abdominal bloating
– smelly vaginal discharge
– Leg edema (water retention)
– Lower abdominal pain
– Rectal symptoms such as bleeding from the rectum, slack movement or rectal pain
– Wood pain due to pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidney) or ureteral obstruction
“Most likely, these signs are often not recorded as something important just because they are so common. For example, many women experience abdominal bloating caused by hormonal fluctuations during their menstrual cycles. Women postmenopausal women often report feeling the need to urinate more frequently than they did when they were younger. In addition, most women juggle multiple responsibilities that leave them extremely tired from time to time, ”adds the doctor.
Risk factors that can cause cervical cancer: Although there is no definitive way to determine the causes of all types of cancer, certain risk factors can increase your chances of developing cervical cancer. of the uterus. Tomar highlights the following risk factors that can help you make healthy choices:
One of the main risks of developing cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV). Although there are over 100 types of HPV infections, strains HPV16 and HPV18 are most associated with cervical cancer
Smoking – chemicals in tobacco can put women who smoke at an increased risk of cervical cancer. Second-hand smoke can also play a role
Weak immune system – women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may not be able to fight HPV infections effectively, putting them at risk of developing cervical cancer. a faster pace
Lack of access to health care – women who may not have access to regular health care and cancer screenings could be at high risk
Family history – having a family member diagnosed with cervical cancer is a risk factor
The key to early detection of cervical cancer is for every woman to become familiar with her own body and know what is normal for her. Therefore, a woman should pay close attention to when, how long, and how heavy her period is, and whether she regularly experiences pain in her back or abdomen.
Finally, it can be tempting to search the internet for information about cervical cancer symptoms, but it is important to proceed with caution and be aware that there is a lot of misinformation. Have no fear and consult your doctor for proper advice and support.
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